Lay’s 3 New Potato Chips Are 100x Higher than the Authentic

There’s one factor I’ve come to learn about Lay’s: The model is consistently releasing new (usually limited-edition) baggage of chips. We, at The Kitchn, have been on the beat for some time now, protecting the international-inspired assortment final fall, Canadian-favorite All-Dressed Chips earlier this yr, and so forth. The newest launch is a nod to the model’s most curious (and artistic!) snackers. 

Lay’s simply introduced the finalists for its in style “Do Us a Taste” competitors — a marketing campaign the place followers submit their concepts for brand new Lay’s chips flavors. I acquired an early look (and style) of the three contenders earlier than voting begins subsequent week, and right here’s my two cents. 

The “Do Us a Taste” marketing campaign first began again in 2014 and has periodically returned each few years or so. Every time, followers submit their concepts for a brand new never-before-tried Lay’s taste with the hopes of seeing it en masse on cabinets (and successful 1,000,000 bucks!).   

The fan-submitted finals this yr are Valentina & Lime (that includes Valentina Mexican Scorching Sauce), Korean-Fashion Fried Rooster, and Bacon & Grilled Cheese. Voting begins on April 21 (which can be when the chips enter retailers nationwide) and runs till June 13. It’s unclear if the successful taste will get to affix the catalog of current flavors, however I’ve seen previous winners resurface sometimes (like former winners Fried Inexperienced Tomato and Wavy Tzatziki!).

All three will solely be out there for a restricted time (at the very least, for now). You’ll be able to vote to your favourite by scanning a QR code on the again of the luggage. 

I like me some Korean Fried Rooster. Once I consider it, I consider crispy, candy, sticky, hen with just a little kick of spice from gochujang. The textures are exhausting to translate to a singular chip, however going into this I used to be actually on the lookout for the sweet-spicy-salty flavors I affiliate so fondly with the dish. 

The substances have precise hen fats — which is vital to know for vegetarians! — and that felt like a great signal that these would carefully mimic the precise dish. One chew in, and I discovered this candy Korean-inspired taste pleasantly shocking. These chips had been extremely crispy (as most Lay’s chips are) and had a sweetness that jogged my memory of the saucy coating on Korean Fried Rooster. I used to be lacking some (if not all) of the signature spicy chili taste that comes from gochujang. Nonetheless a very tasty chip, although. 

This subsequent fan-imagined taste sounds so good, I’m stunned Lay’s hasn’t achieved it earlier than. Once more, this chip contains animal fats from pork, which is vital to know for Halal and veggie people on the market. The flavour on this one was very smoky, one thing that Vicky, our studio director, and I picked up on throughout the first crunch (a great little bit of liquid smoke). Apart from that, it’s tacky and as Kelli, our culinary producer, mentioned, tastes like a “strong chip.” I agree, however might’ve achieved with a bit extra cheese taste.

Dolloping a little bit of Valentina sizzling sauce and some squeezes of lime juice on a Lay’s chip is definitely an already identified (and beloved) snack hack, so placing all of it collectively appears like a no brainer. After one chew, I didn’t even have to consider which one is the very best. It’s this taste all the best way! It’s acquired a transparent kick from the recent sauce seasoning, nevertheless it’s complemented so delightfully by the lime. Salty, spicy (however not too spicy), citrusy. These are the actual deal. 

It wasn’t simply me that discovered these to be the clear front-runner. Kelli and Vicky each adored these with Vicky gushing, “yeah, this one, this one is the winner.” I absolutely agreed. 

Which taste are you most excited to attempt? Inform us about it within the feedback under.